Russellville residents around 14th Street and Houston Avenue area going to have some loud activity when sandblasting and painting of City Corp.'s primary water tank begins at the end of the month.

There also may be the possibility of a city-wide burn ban, since the tank is one of the most critical in the city's water system and there would be no backup water supply during the time the water tank is out of service.

A pre-construction meeting between City Corp. employees and Leher Painting took place Monday, City Corp. Operations Manager Larry Collins told the utility's board of directors Tuesday at the city's water plant near Russellville Country Club.

The interior and exterior of the 14th and Houston water tank will be sandblasted and painted. Collins said he and City Corp. General Manager Craig Noble would inform residents in the immediate area about the project, which is set to begin April 27.

Collins said a two-day testing period would take place to ensure water supply and pressure would be maintained while the tank is out of service.

"That is one of the most critical tanks in City Corp.'s system," Noble said. "There will be some sandblasting and air compressors, pretty noisy. The tank will be draped and anchored to keep down any (paint and sand) getting off sight. There will be some activity in that area."

The construction window for the project is 60 days. Noble said during the meeting the same company painted a water tank in Searcy, and area residents experienced an increase in water pressure during the time the water tank was out of service.

Ron Pierce of Garver and Garver Engineers suggested the city establish a burn ban during the time the water tank is out of service in Russellville.

"This tank is the only tank in the skeleton of the system that serves all of the water City Corp. sells," Pierce said. "We'll be operating basically with no storage in that system during the time the tank is down. All the water will have to come from the water treatment plant here."

New report

Collins introduced a new report during his discussion of the water and wastewater operations that Chairman Steve Hooten requested he give to board members every month.

Since the utility purchased a sewer camera -- about an $83,000 investment, according to Noble -- employees have been able to analyze inflow and infiltration in the city's water-line system. Collins told board members 450 feet of 6- or 4-inch of sewer line had been found that needed to be replaced, and work is being scheduled to be done.

Collins said 3,000 feet of that needs to be jetted because of roots and grease that is embedded in the lines. Jetters utilize a cutting head that travels through sewer lines and gets rid of such objects.

Collins said 21 manholes (about 120 linear feet) have been refurbished, at a cost of $95 per linear foot. When the contractor returns next month, work will continue on other manholes in the city.

Collins showed board members pictures of manholes that had been refurbished, which includes concrete to replace brick manholes and a 50-year warranty.

Noble said from a manpower standpoint, the utility may have to look at hiring outside contractors to help with continued inflow and infiltration work.